Live Blog: Occupy Oakland quiet as rain again begins to fall

Oakland Tribune

Posted:
11/11/2011 08:12:47 AM PST

Updated:
11/12/2011 12:14:47 AM PST

Veterans and others have concluded their Veterans Day march from Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to the police station and have returned to the Occupy Oakland camp. Earlier, police distributed eviction notices to campers at Occupy Oakland. The move comes one day after a man -- whose name has not been released by police -- was shot and killed after an apparent fight near the Occupy Oakland tent city. The mayor and other city leaders are stepping up calls for the camp to disband.

10:30 p.m. Camp beds down

Occupy Oakland is bedding down for the night. Small groups of occupiers are milling around, talking quietly, while a homeless man sleeps in the doorway of City Hall.

A slow drizzle has again started to fall over downtown Oakland.

9:45 p.m. Sockupy Oakland

A man named Michael Haley is handing out free socks at the Occupy encampment, saying he is running Sockupy Oakland. Dry feet, he says, are the key to getting people to defy Quan's request to leave.

He started the effort in honor of his mother, who was an activist in the '60s who wanted to join the Occupy Oakland movement, he wrote on the site. " ... but I wouldn't let her go face the riot cops," he wrote. "I'll do that for her for now, thanks. So, when she asked, 'Well what CAN I do?' I said socks. Socks were the number one request of campers who a friend and I talked to on our various tours of OGP. Even Forrest Gump knows to take care of your feet."

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Here's more: "The socks I can currently get (Champion brand white medium socks) are $12.99/dozen. I will buy Ziploc sandwich bags, packaging one pair in each bag (which is then a waterproof bag containing emergency socks for when it rains, if their feet are currently dry), with a small piece of paper detailing how these socks were provided (no names). I will then take these packaged socks and verify first hand that the people I give them to are part of an actual tent.

I feel that this is important because this seems to be one of the most asked for items by actual occupiers; nobody thought to bring 20 pairs of socks, which is what you legitimately need in this situation of sustained outdoors living. It is important both for the hygiene and the health of these protesters, but also -- most importantly -- for their morale."

9:10 p.m. Calm night at the camp

Very little action at the tent city for now, although one camper is upset to find his tent missing. It's unclear at this point where it went.

A lone person playing a recorder is entertaining the campers.

8:30 p.m. Campers destroy eviction notices

Every last one of the 200 eviction notices handed out earlier have been destroyed by angry campers.

Here is the full text of the notice:

"Persons staying overnight in Frank Ogawa Plaza

Date: November 11, 2011

Notice of violations and demand to cease violations. This notice supersedes all previous notices.

The City of Oakland and its police department support and protect the right of all individuals to engage in free speech and their right to assemble. However, this encampment is a violation of the law.

You do not have permission to lodge overnight in Frank Ogawa Plaza. You must remove all tents, sleeping bags, tarps, cooking facilities and equipment and any other lodging material from the Plaza immediately. Your continued use of the Plaza for overnight lodging will subject you to arrest.

Your activities are injurious to health, obstruct the free use of property, interfering with the comfortable enjoyment of the Plaza, and unlawfully obstruct the free passage or use of a public park or square.

(California Penal Code sections 370 and 647(e) and Civil Code section 3479.) You must allow all persons, including Oakland Police officers and other emergency personnel, access to all areas of the Plaza at all times.

You are making fires in a public park in violation of OMC 12.64.160. You must remove all barbecues and stoves.

Your continued violation of these laws will subject you to administrative penalties, civil penalties, citation, and immediate arrest. Your continued violation of the law will subject your tents, stoves, sleeping bags, tarps, and any other belongings left in the plaza to immediate removal from the plaza by the city of Oakland."

Also Friday, a group has sent a message on Twitter that they want to make it a "Night of 1,000 masks" and is urging people to show up at 9 p.m. at the camp. One person has been spotted with a mask.

7:45 p.m. Shooting suspect had been living in camp, police say

One of the men being sought in connection with Thursday's shooting death near Frank Ogawa Plaza was a frequent resident of the camp, Oakland police said in a newly issued news release. Occupiers have said the shooting was unrelated to the camp. Here's the full text of the OPD release:

"On Nov. 10, 2011, at 4:57 p.m., the Oakland Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Broadway on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they located a male adult African American victim believed to be in his 20s, who was suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Oakland Police Department Major Crimes Section Investigators were called to the scene. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin.

Oakland Police Department Major Crimes Section investigators report that witnesses state the suspect was a frequent resident at the Frank Ogawa Plaza for the past several days. He is described as a male African-American, 20-25 years old, 5'9," 150 lbs, with short hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt. A second suspect is described as a male African American, in his 20s to 30s, 5'9" to 5'11," 250 lbs, long dreadlocks with red tips, possibly with a tattoo on the back of his neck. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

The Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department Major Crimes, Section 1, Team 3, at 510-238-3529."

7:40 p.m. Tent city is upset over eviction notices

After marching from Frank H. Ogawa Plaza to the Oakland Police Department Friday night, many campers have returned to the plaza. Campers are upset about the earlier eviction notices handed out by police and are saying, "Read it and burn it."

6 p.m. Mayor: Occupy Oakland 'risks are too great'

Campers are wadding up and tossing out the eviction notices they were served earlier, while Mayor Jean Quan defended issuing the notices.

Quan issued a statement saying, "Last night's tragic incident on the plaza has elevated concerns about the safety of the encampment and people who also use the space. The risks are too great and it is time for the encampment to end."

There were also five other emergency calls for service in the area Thursday, she said.

One call, at 3:23 p.m., was about a pedestrian who was hit by a vehicle at 14th Street and Broadway. The incident appeared to be unrelated to the Occupy Oakland incident. A young man was being pursued by downtown security and ran in front of a car and was hit. He sustained minor injuries and was transported by paramedics.

At 5:08 p.m., emergency crews responded to 15th Street and Broadway for a pedestrian that was hit by an OPD squad car that appeared to be responding to the shooting. The man who was hit had nonlife threatening injuries and was treated by paramedics.

About 30 minutes later, emergency personnel responded to 140 Frank Ogawa Plaza for a female working at the Western Federal Credit Union, who said that a stray bullet that killed a man earlier had broken the window of her office and that she was "nearly grazed" by the bullet and hit with broken glass. She had superficial injuries, but refused to be transported for medical treatment.

At 9:12 p.m., fire crews were back at the scene of the earlier shooting to wash down blood and vomit.

At 4 a.m. Friday, emergency crews were called to the Occupy Oakland medical tent for a 20-year-old man who had signs consistent with alcohol and/or drug use. The patient was transported to an area hospital by paramedics

Quan's statement also said electrical power boxes for outside lights on the plaza have been forced open.

Meanwhile, a vocal, but peaceful march of veterans against police brutality has returned to the plaza after marching to the police department.

5:25 p.m. Occupy Oakland gets eviction notices

As rain continues to beat on the tents at Occupy Oakland, police are going tent to tent distributing eviction notices to campers directing them to leave or be arrested.

The letter says, "Your continued use of the plaza for overnight lodging will subject you to arrest."

The letter cites public health laws, such as making fires in a city park, that campers are breaking.

"Your continued violation of the law will subject your tents, sleeping bags, tarps and any other belonging left in the plaza to immediate removal from the park," the document continues.

City Council President Larry Reid said Friday night that he has not been informed of the timing of any enforcement of the orders.

Meanwhile, a few hundred people are marching in downtown and chanting, "Stop beating veterans."

Two vets have been injured over the last month in clashes with police over the Occupy Oakland movement, witnesses have said.

4:45 p.m. Friends say Scott Olsen discharged from hospital

Friends gathered at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza say Scott Olsen, the 24-year-old military vet who witnesses say was hit in the head with a tear-gas canister on the night of Oct. 25, is out of the hospital.

Olsen fractured his skull when police and protesters clashed the night after the Occupy Oakland camp was torn down by police.

Also speaking at the rally is Oscar Grant's uncle, Cephus Johnson, also a veteran.

4:35 p.m. Veterans speaking

About 30 veterans are gathering at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza ready to lead a march, likely to the Oakland Police Department to denounce violence against vets. The group is giving condolences to families of vets who have committed suicide after returning from war.

A few hundred people have gathered in the plaza, waiting to participate in the march.

3:55 p.m. Waiting for Veterans Day march to start

Men in green military jackets and military headgear have begun gathering on the plaza.

Veterans For Peace is preparing to making a speech and possibly give condition updates on Scott Olsen, the 24-year-old Daly City man and Iraq War veteran who witnesses say was shot in the head with a tear-gas canister during a clash with police and protesters on Oct. 25.

As people gather on the plaza under a break from Friday's rainy weather, a sign has been placed inside a bus shelter on 14th Street. It reads: "Occupiers, turn on your brains and see the harm you are causing to our town. You are attracting criminals, hurting our fragile economy, trashing public space. You have devolved into mob rule. You have lost sight of the goal. Leave now. Don't not violate my right of free speech, do not take down this flier. Citizen of Oakland."

On the sign, someone has scrawled, "Citizen, see the harm that capitalism causes to our country!"

12:50 p.m. Richmond mayor skips veterans event for Occupy rally

About 100 protesters gathered in front of Richmond City Hall this morning for an Occupy "speak out" addressing wealth inequality.

Organizers called the rally for 11 a.m., the hour traditionally reserved for Veterans Day remembrances.

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin came under criticism from local veterans groups and the conservative cable channel Fox News for skipping a Chevron-sponsored salute to veterans scheduled for the same hour.

Occupy organizers said they chose the date and time because they wanted families to be able to attend.

One "speak out" attendee called a moment of silence for veterans and another noted that veterans are among those victimized by corporate greed.

Henry Clark of the environmentalist West County Toxics Coalition said that Richmond residents are veterans of the battle for social justice.

"We are veterans of Chevron, veterans of the Occupy Richmond struggle, he said. "We are all on the battlefield."

Mayor McLaughlin said that the Occupy movement is important to Richmond residents grappling with unemployment, foreclosures and generational poverty.

"As mayor, I understand the frustration of the people as the wealth becomes concentrated with the 1 percent," she said. "This isn't what veterans fought for."

Critics this week said the mayor should have reserved the hour for honoring veterans alone.

Council members Jeff Ritterman and Jovanka Beckles also attended the rally.

11 a.m. Cal mostly unoccupied

The Occupy Cal protest has dwindled to two protesters, seated on the steps of Sproul Hall this morning.

"I'm cold and tired," said Rapp, adding the plan is bring back tents on Tuesday.

9:05 a.m. Police union sends open letter to Occupy Oakland

On Friday, the Oakland Police Officers Association sent a letter to the Occupy Oakland camp, imploring them to leave peacefully. Monitoring the camp, especially its violent elements, has become a drain on city resources, according to the OPOA.

Here is the full text of the letter:

"On behalf of the 645 Oakland police officers we represent, this letter comes to you out of duty to protect the Oakland community and its citizens.

Oakland police officers are the 99 percent and we understand and sympathize with your message. We respect your right to peaceful protest.

We are also sworn to protect the citizens of Oakland. Right now, Oakland is in a state of emergency.

Our police officers are the 99 percent struggling in Oakland neighborhoods every day to contain the 1 percent who rob, steal, rape and murder our law-abiding citizens. The Occupy Oakland protest, now 30 days old, is taking our police officers out of Oakland neighborhoods and away from protecting the citizens of Oakland.

In an average city in California, this might not be of emergency proportions for its citizens. Oakland is not an 'average' city -- we have the highest violent crime rate in California. We are the fifth most violent city in the United States, with more shootings and homicides than any city west of the Mississippi.

Last night's murder, right in the epicenter of Occupy Oakland, is unacceptable. So is the violence being promoted by 'renegade' protesters who are lighting firebombs, destroying property and attacking police.

What is even more tragic is that homicides are a frequent occurrence in Oakland. This is the real emergency: Yesterday's murder was Oakland's 101st homicide of 2011. It is time for us to stop directing all of our efforts at policing the small enclave of 'Occupy Oakland' and get back to our job of protecting the citizens of Oakland in the neighborhoods where our residents live.

The events of recent weeks have shown that many occupiers at Frank Ogawa Plaza are citizens of other communities with limited interest in preserving the greater good and safety of our city.

Please, we ask you: Leave Frank Ogawa Plaza peacefully and immediately so Oakland police can get back to work fighting the devastating crime that's occurring in our neighborhoods.

You have sent the world a strong message; now it is time to go home. Your leaving today, peacefully, of your own free will, on the 30th day, will send a message to Oakland that you care about our citizens and respect our city.

With last night's homicide, in broad daylight, in the middle of rush hour, Frank Ogawa Plaza is no longer safe. Please leave peacefully, with your heads held high, so we can get police officers back to work fighting crime in Oakland neighborhoods.

Thank you."

7:40 a.m. Tense scene after confrontation

Within the last 20 minutes, a fight broke out after two men apparently tried to set a tent on fire. A man who witnessed it confronted them and followed them with a video camera.

They told the man, apparently a camper, to mind his own business, scuffled with him and swung a hammer and baton they had with them. The man's video camera was smashed.

Oakland police officers watched the scuffle and started yelling at the men, but by that time other campers had joined and told them it was under control.

The two men with the hammer and baton took off without further confrontation.

Friday, 6:30 a.m. Shrine erected to 'Alex'

A shrine has been erected near the spot where a man was shot and killed the previous night.

Officials have not yet released the man's name, pending notification of next of kin, and are only saying that he may have been in his 20s.

The shrine, however, names him as "Alex". Lit by about 100 candles, it carries messages pinned to poster board that say "We love you Alex," "You will not be forgotten," and "Go in light and love."

There's been no significant change in the number of tents on Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, despite Mayor Jean Quan's plea for the campers to leave on their own in the wake of Thursday night's violence.

Thursday, 11:30 p.m. Oakland: Mourners hold vigil

People are gathering at the Oakland plaza to remember the young shooting victim in a peaceful candlelight vigil.

9:55 p.m. Oakland: Shooting victim visited camp

In an interview, an Oakland woman said that when she lived in a tent at the Occupy Oakland camp, the man who was shot and killed Thursday night often visited her. Medea Wiliams said the victim was her cousin.

9:45 p.m. Oakland: No action expected at plaza

An Oakland police officer at the scene said no action at the plaza is expected tonight.

9:30 p.m. Oakland: Police tape removed

Police have cleared the shooting scene on 14th and Broadway, taking down the tape that cordoned the scene and hosing off the concrete.

People are beginning to gather at the site, where the nearby Western Federal Credit Union was struck by a bullet.

A block of 14th Street, between Broadway and Clay, remains closed for the time being.

8:45 p.m. Oakland: Mayor's statement

The full text of Mayor Jean Quan's statement on the shooting and Occupy Oakland:

"Tragically, a young man was shot at 14th and Broadway tonight. But whether a murder occurs here or at 98th and International, I call on all Oaklanders to demand peace and reject violence anywhere. Whether this incident is related to the encampment, or is an unrelated act, it is unacceptable.

We heard that fights early in the day were broken up by people on Frank Ogawa Plaza.

Tonight's incident underscores the reason why the encampment must end. The risks are too great. We need to return OPD resources to addressing violence throughout the city. It's time for the encampment to end. Camping is a tactic, not a solution.

I call on the community to be united in the need for the camp to close. I am calling on campers to leave voluntarily. We have sent additional outreach workers tonight and made additional shelter beds available.

Our Measure Y outreach workers are reaching out to offer additional services. City Team Ministries, 722 Washington St., has beds for men, and for women, Crossroads Shelter, 7515 International Blvd. We appreciate the service workers at the Interfaith Tent who are also providing outreach to the homeless.

We need a peaceful resolution to the encampment. The campers need to leave voluntarily. I call on the community to be united around a peaceful resolution.

Several protesters say they will spend the night at Sproul Plaza, but no one appears to have any tents. One suggestion that received a large amount of laughter and applause was that protesters put up tents, then put sandbags in them so officers couldn't take them away so easily.

8:30 p.m. Oakland: Life goes on in tent city

Five police cars sit on 14th Street near Broadway as occupiers mill around the tent city. About two dozen people are huddled on a nearby corner, holding candlelight vigils. About 100 people are in the amphitheater, listening to someone play guitar while candles on the ground spell out the first name of the man who was killed tonight.

8:15 p.m. Oakland mayor calls on campers to leave

In a brief news conference, Mayor Jean Quan called on protesters to voluntarily leave the camp, and said the city is working on a plan to remove them peacefully, according to media accounts on Twitter. City staff are handing out vouchers for shelters. The shooting, she said, shows that it's time for the camp to go.

8 p.m. UC Berkeley: Quiet general assembly at Sproul

About 200 people remain at Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley, down from about 500 hours earlier. Three police officers are monitoring the crowd. Attorneys from the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild said they were considering filing a lawsuit about police brutality, and students talked about raising money to help support a St. Mary's student who remains jailed after the protests. A candlelight vigil to raise money for the student's bail was to be held Thursday at the Moraga campus.

7:45 p.m. Oakland: Mayor arrives

Mayor Jean Quan has just arrived at the camp and is preparing to speak.

7:20 p.m. Oakland Council president says camp must go

City Council President Larry Reid has said the shooting proves that the camp in front of Oakland City Hall must be dismantled, according to numerous media accounts on Twitter. Mayor Jean Quan hasn't yet shown up at the camp. Many protesters believe the shooting will spark police attempts to dismantle the camp; a few have packed their belongings and left.

7 p.m. Oakland: Organizers gather for meeting

Occupiers are trying to gather for a meeting even as police work the scene for evidence.

AC Transit bus routes previously rerouted through downtown Oakland are back on schedule, except for the 26 line.

6:45 p.m. Oakland: Vigil on the plaza

Protesters are holding a silent vigil for the shooting victim on the plaza.

6:40 p.m. Oakland: 'Turn the lights on'

Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan has been shouted down by protesters, who want lights restored at the plaza.

4:57 p.m. Oakland: Man shot

At 4:57 p.m., Oakland Police found a victim suffering from a gun shot wound.

Police have cordoned off parts of Frank Ogawa Plaza between the Occupy encampment and the 14th Street BART station entrance.

3:20 p.m. UC Berkeley: Protesters urge others to bring tents

Protesters at Sproul have put out a call for others to bring tents this evening, as the group is expected to hold a general assembly to vote on whether they should try to set up tents again Thursday.